Southsea Green has recently teamed up with Food Portsmouth to share both the SG community garden and the Growing Place @Treadgolds for any joint projects. We both want to engage the local communities in growing more, and to promote the social, environmental and economic benefits of growing local, seasonal produce.

Southsea Green was developed the garden from a derelict strip of land which was overgrown and full of old masonry. We worked with the local council to encourage more local growing and began getting the message across that gardening and volunteering is a valuable and viable activity. Thousands of hours later, and by as many people, the garden has transformed into a community green-space which we are proud to share with others, especially those with nowhere to grow their own.

Portsmouth in Bloom - we worked with the City Council from 2014 to run this well-loved competition to get the city blooming with flowers and veg in gardens and street verges, and on balconies and in pots all over the city

We have planted a community orchard, and have distributed from the Woodland Trust as part of the Plant a Million Trees campaign 800 saplings and young trees that were distributed to schools and community spaces

Skillshops funded by the European Social Fund - we are running workshops for people who want to learn new skills and to help with employability. Our weekly crafts & gardening workshops teach new ways of working and are a great way to make new friends

Volunteering - we need help to water. plant, weed, run events and talk to people and to help protect and nurture new trees in our community orchard

Future:

So, exciting times - and we'd love you to come and share the garden, and your green ideas. Help us to open the garden gates and grow our city community through gardening, recycling, sharing surplus and buying local.

FoodCycle Portsmouth is a voluntary project in the community, for the community. It has been running in Portsea and Somerstown since 2014. It aims to reduce food poverty, social isolation, and food waste by offering social volunteering opportunities and a community dining experience. Guests enjoy a delicious home-cooked hot meal and conversation over food. The meals are made by friendly volunteers using donated fresh food which is surplus to local food retailers – Sainsbury’s Commercial Road, Morrisons at Victory Park, Waitrose Southsea, Tesco Fratton Park, and Portsmouth Fruit and Flower.

The meals are meat-free and delicious, ranging from pasta bake to curry, fruit crumble to banana split!

The meals are free, and dinner guests don’t require a referral – simply turn up on time to take a seat and enjoy dinner!

Tuesday’s at John Pounds Centre, Queen Street, PO1 3HN

Volunteers: 5 – 9pm, Dinner served at 7pm.

Thursday’s at King’s Church, Fraser Road, PO5 4QA

Volunteers: 4 – 8pm, Dinner served at 6pm (Family Meal Session)

One volunteer, said “FoodCycle has given me the confidence and skills to not only reduce the meat content of family meals but make healthier vegetarian swaps and try new ideas”.

FoodCycle Portsmouth is a project of the John Pounds Centre. FoodCycle Portsmouth are a fundraising supported organisation, operating on the triple donation model of time, space, and food. They run a range of fundraising activities throughout the year including an annual pop up restaurant!

For more information about FoodCycle Portsmouth contact them by email or call the John Pounds Centre on 02392 89 29 10. Be social and follow them Facebook and Twitter.

If you would like to find out more about Food Portsmouth, who we are and what we do, don’t be afraid to drop us a line at gail.baird@johnpoundscentre.co.uk or call the John Pounds Centre on 02392 892 022.